At San Siro on Tuesday, PSG lost for the second time in four Champions League matches this season.
Placed in the group of death for this 2023-2024 edition of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain did not expect a walk in the park in Group F, alongside Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Newcastle United. But, after four days, PSG displays an unprecedented time in the QSI era, with two victories and two defeats, the most recent, Tuesday November 7, on the Milan lawn (1-2).
These two setbacks, conceded in the last three matches, constitute a first for the Parisians since their change of dimension in 2012. They have in fact conceded as many defeats in the Champions League this season as in the last eighteen matches. group stage that they had played (12 wins, 4 draws). The Parisians especially displayed deficiencies in the game against Milan, muzzled by the opposing tactical lock, and orphaned by a ghostly Kylian Mbappé on his left wing.
Should we be worried about qualifying for the round of 16?
After four days of the Champions League, PSG is no longer leader of Group F. The Parisians’ defeat in Milan, combined with Dortmund’s success against Newcastle, has reshuffled the cards in this very tight group. The Germans (7 points) now lead the way, ahead of PSG (6 points), Milan (5 points) and Newcastle (4 points). Above all, this setback gave rise to a new fear: that of harmless Parisians far from the Parc des Princes. This defeat at San Siro was in fact the third in a row away from home for PSG in the Champions League, after the slap received in Newcastle at the beginning of October, and the setback in Munich in the round of 16 last February.
However, the situation is far from alarming for Parisians. Because if they only have a meager cushion of one point on the third place occupied by Milan, the French champions could qualify for the round of 16 from the next day and the reception of Newcastle, on November 29. A success against the Magpies combined with a victory or a draw for Dortmund against the Milanese, and PSG would indeed be assured of joining the next round alongside the Germans. The Dortmund-PSG match on the final day would then turn into a final for first place. A defeat against Newcastle, on the other hand, would seriously complicate the task of PSG, who would no longer be in control of their destiny on the last day.
Should Luis Enrique find a plan B?
After the wreck of Newcastle (1-4), the Spaniard had been faithful to his reputation as a stubborn coach. He announced on camera that he would not reconsider his plan, even if his team had spent the evening suffering. “I thought it was the best option and I will continue to think so”, he insisted. Behind, he still made a small adjustment by replacing an attacker with a midfielder, retaining the same tactical system.
After a convincing month, including a correction inflicted at the Parc des Princes on the same AC Milan (3-0), his team relapsed on Tuesday, being completely dominated in midfield, as at St James’ Park. His pair Manuel Ugarte-Warren Zaire-Emery was constantly outnumbered (Vitinha playing, as he has since the start of the season, off-center on the left).
“The middle battle? They played a great match in front”replied the Spaniard, evasively, at the microphone of RMC Sport. Beyond the strict analysis of the match, the question arises of the viability of the offensive animation driven by Luis Enrique, with this desire to build on the sides, very often abandoning the axis. A complete contrast to PSG in previous seasons, which excelled in this area thanks to the passing quality of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Marco Verratti.
Is Kylian Mbappé restricted by his position on the pitch?
Freed from the shadow of the stars who left this summer, Kylian Mbappé is the headliner of this new PSG, with Luis Enrique sauce. If, statistically, the Parisian has had a start to the season close to his standards (12 goals in 14 games), he no longer gives the impression of being able to make the difference on his own. The problem does not seem to be linked to his physical form since he proved with the France team at the October rally that he was still that player capable of breaking through a defense.
Since the start of the season, the world champion has returned to the left wing he occupied at the start of his career. Tuesday against Milan, he played glued to the touchline and seemed completely cut off from his teammates. Kylian Mbappé only stood out very occasionally on complicated slaloms, while receiving the ball in a stopped position, another result of Luis Enrique’s game plan, wanting a team block very high on the pitch. Deprived of depth, “KMB” saw a large part of its effectiveness eroded. And all of PSG suffered from it.